Pivot pin structure



1 3,135,402 PIVGT PiN STRUCTURE l James E. McCanse, Moline, Ill.,assignor to Deere & Corn pany, Moline, 1li., a corporation of DelawareFiled .1uly'12, 1961, Ser. No. 123,466 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) Thisinvention relates to an earth moving implement and more particularlyVfor the means of mounting the implement on a tractor.` Still moreparticularly this invention relates to a particular type of pivot pinmounting which permits the implement frame to be minutely adjustedrelatively to the tractor body.

On the conventional type earth mover that may be mounted on a tractor,there are provided upright supporting frameworks on opposite sides ofthetractor which are pivotally connected to a pair of `forwardlyextending lift arms connected at their forward ends to an earth movingpiece of equipment such as a loader bucket. The lift arms are normallyinterconnected either by means of beam structure or by the bucket Vso asto become ,aV rigid U-shaped member. In many instances, and particularlyon what is considered an inside loader, i.e. in Vwhich the lift armsextend between the tractor body and the tractor wheels or tracks,l thereis often ncreated the problem of preventing interference of the liftarms with portions of the tractor. In the vertical swing of the liftarms, they will often come closely adjacent to some portion of thetractor or the tracks or wheels as the case may be. vIn these instances,even a slight error the tractor which may be slightly adjusted to effectminute movement laterally of the lift arms in order to avoidinterference with a portion of the tractor. This is fundamentally doneby moving the pivot pin support for one or both of the lift arms infore-and-aft directions in order to Vswing the arms laterally to oneside or the other. The entire lift arm structure may be swung laterallyas far as one-half an inch by merely moving the rear pivots.

Specifically it is the object of the present invention to provide apivot pin structure connecting each lift arm to its respectivesupporting frame which is composed of opposite end portions eccentric toone another. One end portion extends through the supporting frame andthe other end portion extends through the respective lift arm.Therefore, by merely turning the pivot pin, the eccentric connection' tothe lift arm will cause the armrto move forwardly or rearwardly relativeto the supporting structure.

It is a further object of the present invention to incorporate with theaforementioned pin structure a plate member which is connected to oneend portion of the pin by means of a pair of bolts disposed on adiameter of the respective end portion. The plate has a notch on itsouter edge, and the supporting frame has a lug which is insertable in4the notch. In one position of the plate, the pin may be adjusted at 180degree intervals and the bolts inserted and locked in that position. Byturning the plate over, the pin may be rotated at intervals of 180degrees and 90 degrees offset as respects the previous settings. Theplate may be again locked in these positions. Consequently, by thissimple connection, the pin may be positioned angularly lat 90 degreeintervals.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will'becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention isbetter understood'from the United States Patent() ICC followingdescription and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tractor and loader assemblyincorporating the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2.

Y FIG. 4 isi a composite view showing various positions of the pin andits surrounding structure as viewed in a location shown on the line 4 4of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is provided a tractor having atractor body 10 carried on a pair of side tracks 11, 12. An operatorsstation with suitable controls is provided and is indicated by thereference numeral 13. Mounted on opposite sides of the tractor and inconventional manner are a pair of upright' loader supporting frames 14,15. Supported `on and extending forwardly from the supporting frames 14,15 are a pair of lift arms 16, 17 which are interconnected at theirforward ends by a loader bucket 18. Other means such as a transversebeam may extend across the forward end of the lift arms 16, 17 tointerconnect the arms and generally rigidify the entire lift armstructure. A pair of lift cylinders, one of which is shown at 19,extends from the supporting frames 14, 15 to the respective lift arms16, 17 and operates to raise and lower the arms 16, 17 about their reartransverse pivots. The bucket is tilted by means of linkage composed ofa pair of links 20, 21 supported on the lift arms 16, 17 respectivelyand connecting links 22, 23 which extend from the upper end of the links20, 21 to the rear portion of the'bucket 18. Also connected to the upperends of the links 20, 21 are a pair of tilting cylinders 25, 26extending from upper portions of the supporting frames 14, 15. Extensionand retraction of the cylinders 25, 26 causes the bucket 18 to rollabout the pivotal connection to the lift arms 16, 17.

Referring now to the pivotal structure connecting the arms 16, 17 to thesupporting'frame 14, 1S and particularly to the structure shown in FIGS.2 and 3,"it should be understood that the structure for each lift arm16, 17 is identical. Consequently, detailed description will be limitedto the pivot structure connecting the right lift arm 17 and the rightsupporting structure 15. The supporting frame 15 is composed of innerand outer upright plates 30, 31 which are spaced apart and carry atupper forward ends an elongated horizontal pin sup.-

port 32. The parts 30, 31, 32 are welded to supply a j rigid support forthe pivot pin. A pin, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral33, is composed of an inner end portion 34 which is carried by thesupport 32 and the outer wall 31, and an outer portion 35 which iseccentric to the inner end portion 34. The outer end of the pin 33 isprovidedwith .anV integral dat round head portion or flange 36. The arm17 is provided with an opening 37 which receives the eccentric endportion l35 and with a shoulder 3S which receives the integral plateportion or flange 36. As Vmay be clearly seen from viewing FIGS. 2 and3, the pin 34, upon angular movement about its axis and within the framestructure 15, will cause the offset portion of the eccentric end 35 tobe another. The plate 40 is similarly provided with a pair of openings,one of which is shown at 42 in FIG. 2, which may be aligned with thetapped openings 3, 4 in the pin portion 34. A pair of bolts, indicatedat 1 and 2 extend through the openings in the plate 40 and into thetapped openings 3 and 4 of the pin 34. The plate 40 is provided with anotch 44 in its outer edge which overlies the supporting structure 15. Alug 45 is fixed to the surface of the supporting structureA and isreceived in the notch 44. Consequently the plate is rigid with the pin33 and is locked against angular movement by the lug 45. When connectedto the pin 33, the plate 4t) becomes a detachable flange of the pin 33.

Reviewing FIG. 4, by placing the side B of the plate 40 against the endof the pin portion 34, the offset part of the eccentric portion 35 mayextend above the portion 34. The bolts 1, 2 may temporarily be removedand the pin 33 rotated 180. The offset portion will then be below theinner portion 34 of the pin. This is shown substantially in the secondview in FIG. 4. Since the openings 3, 4 are diametrically opposed to oneanother, the plate 40 will not need to be rotated.

In the two views of the pin structure shown at the right of FIG. 4, theplate B is reversed so that the surface A lies adjacent the end of theinner pin portion 34. Consequently the surface B is exposed. With thisarrangement, the pin 33 may be rotated so that the two openings 3, 4 areplaced in intermediate positions as compared to the positions shown inthe two views on the left of FIG. 4. In the third view, the offset partof the eccentric 35 is to the left. On the far right view of FIG. 4, theoffset part of the eccentric portion 35 extends to the right.Consequently FIG. 4 clearly shows that the offset part of the ececntric35 may be positioned above, below, forwardly or rearwardly of the innerpin portion 34. The part or arm 17 may therefore be moved slightly tothe rear, upward or downward relative to the supporting frame 15. Sincethe arm is part of rigid U-shaped structure and interconnected to thearm 16, such movement ywill result in minute lateral adjustment of thearms 16, 17.

Referring again to FIG. l, it becomes apparent that minute adjustment ofthe lift arms 16, .17 laterally may occur due to the movement of thepivot pins connecting the respective arms 16, 17 to the supportingstructures 14, 15. For example, should the right arm 17 contact slightlythe front end of the tractor body 10, the pin 33 could be rotated sothat the eccentric part of the olfset portion 35 extends rearwardly tothereby draw the arm laterally to the right in order to avoid thetractor body 10. This type of adjustment is not expected to overcomemajor defects or improperly manufactured implements. Primarily it is forthe purpose of overcoming a combination of tolerances which would shiftthe loader arms 16, 17 slightly to the left or right so as to contactthe tractor body or it is possible to overcome a situation in which theframe may become slightly deformed so that a minute adjustment would berequired to effect its not contacting the tractor body.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilledin the art. Therefore, while the present form was shown in concise anddetailed manner, it should be recognized that such was for the purposeof clearly. and concisely illustrating the principles of the inventionand it was not intended to limit or narrow the invention beyond thebroad concepts set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an earth moving piece of equipment for a tractor having a pair ofupright supporting frames on opposite sides of the tractor, a pair offorwardly extending lift arms extending from the supporting frames, andmeans interconnecting the arms beyond one end of the tractor, theimprovement comprising: a pair of horizontally disposed and alined pivotpins, each of said pins having opposite eccentric Vend portions with oneend portion extending through one of the upright frames and the oppositeend portion extending through a respective lift arm for permittingvertical movement of the arm; a pair of tapped openings extendingaxially through said one end portion of each of the pivot pins, thetapped openings being on a diameter of the respective end portion andequal distance from its axis; plates lying adjacent the latter endportions and overlying partially the respective supporting frames, saidplates having alined openings with the tapped openings of the respectiveend portions; threaded elements extending through the latter openingsand threadedly received in the tapped openings; and means on each of therespective supporting frames contacting the'overlying portion of therespective plates for preventing rotation of the respective pins.

2. In an earth moving piece of equipment for a tractor having a pair ofsupporting frames on opposite sides of the tractor, a pair of forwardlyextending lift arms extending from the supporting frames, and meansinterconnecting the arms, the improvement comprising: a pair ofhorizontally disposed and alined pivot pins, each of said pins havingopposite eccentric end portions with one end portion extending throughone of the upright frames and the opposite end portion extending througha respective lift arm for permitting vertical movement of the arm; apair of tapped openings extending axially through said one end portionof each of the pivot pins, the tapped openings being on a diameter ofthe respective end portion and equal distance from its axis; plateslying adjacent the latter end portions and overlying partially therespective supporting frames, said plates having alined openings withthe tapped openings of the respective end portions and lug receivingnotches; threaded elements extending through the latter openings andthreadedly received in the tapped openings; and lugs on the respectivesupporting frames contacting the notches of the respective plates forpreventing rotation of the respective pins.

3. In an earth moving piece of equipment for a tractor having a pair ofsupporting frames on opposite sides of the tractor, a pair of forwardlyextending lift arms extending from the supporting frames, and meansinterconnecting the arms, the improvement comprising: a pair ofhorizontally disposed and alined pivot pins, each of said pins havingopposite eccentric end portions with one end portion extending throughone of the upright frames and the opposite end portion extending througha respective lift arm for permitting vertical movement of the arm; andmeans on the respective supporting frames for preventing rotation of therespective pins, said means being adaptable to lock the pins at variousangular positions to thereby adjust the arms relative to the supportingframes.

4. In an earth moving piece of equipment for a tractor having a pair ofupright supporting frames on opposite sides of the tractor, a pair offorwardly extending lift arms extending from the supporting frames,means interconnecting the arms beyond one end of the tractor, thelimprovement comprising: a pair of horizontally disposed and alinedpivot pins, each of said pins having opposite and eccentric end portionswith one end portion extending through one of the upright frames and theopposite end portion extending through a respective lift arm forpermitting Vertical movement of the arm; plates rigid with the endportions and overlying partially the supporting frames; and means oneach of the respective supporting frames contacting the overlyingportion of the respective plates for preventing rotation of therespective pins, said means being adjustable relative to the plates toeffect angular position of the pins to thereby adjust the arms relativeto the supporting frames.

5. A pivot pin structure for connecting a pair of parts comprising: apivot pin having opposite and eccentric end portions with one endportion extending through one of the parts and the opposite end portionextending through the other of the parts; a pair of tapped openingsextending axially through one end portion of the pivot pin, the tappedopenings being on a diameter of the respective end portion and equaldistance from its axis; a plate lying adjacent the latter end portionand overlying partially one of said parts, said plate having alinedopenings with the tapped openings of the respective end portion;threaded elements extending through the openings in the plate andthreadedlyreceived in the tapped openings; and means on the one of saidparts detachably connected to the overlying portion of the respectiveplate `Ifor -preventing angular movement of the pin, said overlyingplate being removable and reversible to permit angular positioning ofthe pin to cause movement of one part relative to the other. t

6. A pivot pin `structure for connecting a pair of parts comprising: apivot pin having opposite and eccentric end portions with one endportion extending through one of the parts and the opposite end portionextending through the other of the parts; a pair of tapped openingsextending axially through one end portion ofthe pivot pin, the tappedopenings being on a diameter of the respective end portion; a platelying adjacent the latter end portion and overlying partially one ofsaid parts, said plate having alined openings with the tapped openingsof the respective end portion and a'notch in its outer edge; threadedelements extending through the openings inthe plate and threadedlyreceived inthe tapped openings; and lug means yon the one of said partsinsertable in Vthe notch of the overlying portion of the respectiveplate for preventing angular movement of thepin.

7. A pivot pin structure for connecting a pair of parts having adjoiningsurfaces and side faces away from the surfaces comprising: a pivot pinhaving opposite annular end portions extending into the respective partswith one portion being eccentric to the `other and afording a` shoul- 6der at the juncture between the portions that abut the surface of one ofthe parts; a pair of flanges on opposite ends of the pivot pin engagingthe respectiveside faces of the parts for limiting axial movementbetween the parts and the pin, one of the llanges being detachablysupported on the pin for angular adjustment in respect thereto, thelatter flange having abutment means adjacent its edge, `and the other ofsaid flanges being integral with the pin; and means on the side face ofthe part adt jacent the detachable flange engaging the abutment meansfor preventing rotation of the pin relative to the respective part. f

8. A pivot pin structure for connecting a pair of parts having adjoiningsurfaces and side faces away from the surfaces comprising: a pivot pinhaving opposite end portions extending into the respective parts withone portion being eccentric to the other and affording a shoulder at thejuncture between the portions that abut the surface of one of the parts;a pair of flanges on oppositeV ends of the pivot pin Vengaging therespective side faces of the parts for limiting axial movement betweenthe parts and the pin, one of the flanges being detachably supported onthe pin and the other of the flanges being integral with the pin; andmeans between a side face of the Vpart adjacent one of the anges andtherespective flange engaging the latter for preventing rotation of the pinrelative to the respective part.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSCrippen Apr. 16, 1918 Pilch Apr. 21, 1959

2. IN AN EARTH MOVING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR A TRACTOR HAVING A PAIR OFSUPPORTING FRAMES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TRACTOR, A PAIR OF FORWARDLYEXTENDING LIFT ARMS EXTENDING FROM THE SUPPORTING FRAMES, AND MEANSINTERCONNECTING THE ARMS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A PAIR OFHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND ALINED PIVOT PINS, EACH OF SAID PINS HAVINGOPPOSITE ECCENTRIC END PORTIONS WITH ONE END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGHONE OF THE UPRIGHT FRAMES AND THE OPPOSITE END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGHA RESPECTIVE LIFT ARM FOR PERMITTING VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE ARM; APAIR OF TAPPED OPENINGS EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH SAID ONE END PORTIONOF EACH OF THE PIVOT PINS, THE TAPPED OPENINGS BEING ON A DIAMETER OFTHE RESPECTIVE END PORTION AND EQUAL DISTANCE FROM ITS AXIS; PLATESLYING ADJACENT THE LATTER END PORTIONS AND OVERLYING PARTIALLY THERESPECTIVE SUPPORTING FRAMES, SAID PLATES HAVING ALINED OPENINGS WITHTHE TAPPED OPENINGS OF THE RESPECTIVE END PORTIONS AND LUG RECEIVINGNOTCHES; THREADED ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE LATTER OPENINGS ANDTHREADEDLY RECEIVED IN THE TAPPED OPENINGS; AND LUGS ON THE RESPECTIVESUPPORTING FRAMES CONTACTING THE NOTCHES OF THE RESPECTIVE PLATES FORPREVENTING ROTATION OF THE RESPECTIVE PINS.
 5. A PIVOT PIN STRUCTURE FORCONNECTING A PAIR OF PARTS COMPRISING: A PIVOT PIN HAVING OPPOSITE ANDECCENTRIC END PORTIONS WITH ONE END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF THEPARTS AND THE OPPOSITE END PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH THE OTHER OF THEPARTS; A PAIR OF TAPPED OPENINGS EXTENDING AXIALLY THROUGH ONE ENDPORTION OF THE PIVOT PIN, THE TAPPED OPENINGS BEING ON A DIAMETER OF THERESPECTIVE END PORTION AND EQUAL DISTANCE FROM ITS AXIS; A PLATE LYINGADJACENT THE LATTER END PORTION AND OVERLYING PARTIALLY ONE OF SAIDPARTS, SAID PLATE HAVING ALINED OPENINGS WITH THE TAPPED OPENINGS OF THERESPECTIVE END PORTION; THREADED ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENINGSIN THE PLATE AND THREADEDLY RECEIVED IN THE TAPPED OPENINGS; AND MEANSON THE ONE OF SAID PARTS DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE OVERLYING PORTIONOF THE RESPECTIVE PLATE FOR PREVENTING ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF THE PIN, SAIDOVERLYING PLATE BEING REMOVABLE AND REVERSIBLE TO PERMIT ANGULARPOSITIONING OF THE PIN TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF ONE PART RELATIVE TO THEOTHER.